Geneva Cruz is proud to be green

 BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Nov 22, 2023 00:19 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Geneva’s citation is a well-deserved reward for her decades of championing environmental awareness.

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Geneva Cruz

The multi-platinum singer was chosen as one of the distinguished awardees of the recently held Green Gala Awards, held last Nov. 8 at the Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel.

The Green Gala Awards, organized by the Climate Change Commission in partnership with the Rotary Club of Makati Business District, served as one of the culminating festivities capping Climate Change Week (Nov. 4-8) —a fitting prelude to the month-long celebration of climate change awareness.

Geneva’s citation is a well-deserved reward for her decades of championing environmental awareness. Even during her younger years, as a member of the seminal quartet Smokey Mountain, Geneva and her cohorts were already invoking environmental awareness through their green-themed songs including “Paraiso,” “Earth Song,” “Better World,” and even her solo single, “Anak ng Pasig.”

In more recent years, Geneva had also taken part in other environmental advocacies, such as tree-planting projects in Cavite earlier this year with her fellow Philippine Air Force reservists, as well as beach clean-ups around the country.

She says, “I am humbled and grateful for the recognition of my efforts to make a difference in preserving the planet, and I look forward to continuing to represent the philosophy and spirit of other earth warriors to make the world a greener and more sustainable place.”

(L-R) OPM icon/jukebox king Darius Razon, Geneza, Jeffrey Hidalgo and event host RJ Ledesma

Looking back at some of her green-themed songs, she reminisces, “Singing those songs at an early age made us aware enough to make a stand for the environment.”

As a musical artist, Geneva believes that her talent, along with her massive social media influence, is more than enough to create a ripple of awareness for climate change and its harsh realities.

She remarks, “I can only help spread awareness by constantly reading and learning about it, and maybe singing about it because music has a way of communicating with people beyond language, but on a deeper level. And of course, by being a walking, living, breathing example of somebody who cares about the planet.”

Her dreams, however humble, should also inspire like-minded eco warriors like her to mount their own eco initiatives.

She discloses, “My dream is to keep planting trees beginning next year. People don’t know that trees are important because they give us fresh air to breathe, food to eat, and shelter/shade from sunlight and rainfall. Aside from these, many medicines on the market are made from tree extracts. Forests also provide jobs to millions of people. I also plan to grow my own vegetables.”

“I have saved enough money from doing teleseryes and live shows and bought my dream land facing a small river in Tanay, where I will be planting trees before I build a sustainable and eco-friendly rest house. My 9-year old daughter is over the moon and loves the environment as much as me.”

In keeping with the event’s ‘green theme,’ for the awards night, Geneva flaunted a recycled outfit made of plastic starts and plastic sando bags, meticulously crafted by the inmates of the Correctional Institution for Women as their show of support for the environment as well.

Geneva also extends her gratitude to the organizers and reaffirms her support to all their future endeavors.

She exclaims, “My sincerest thanks to Ms. Marichelle Torres-Ackerman, Chairperson of Climate Change Commission Week and Chairperson/Founder of the Green Gala Awards, as well as Mr. Albert dela Cruz, Sr., Commissioner, PH Climate Change Commission. Noble causes like these should be celebrated as an annual event and as often as possible. With so many emerging media platforms nowadays, much can be done to promote and inspire environmental awareness, especially for our youth.”

Among the other Green Gala Awards recipients were her fellow Smokey Mountain co-member Jeffrey Hidalgo, National Artist/sculptor Ramon Orlina, Gov. Tony Leviste, Ernie Lopez, Joyce Hufton and San Miguel Corporation.

Philippinische Märchen/Philippine Fairy Tales (II)

WIE DIE SONNE, DER MOND UND DIE STERNE ENTSTANDEN...

(How the sun, the moon and the stars came into being...)

Es geht die Mär, in alten Zeiten, als die Welt eben erst erschaffen war, sei alles anders gewesen. Der wunderschöne blaue Himmel war ganz niedrig, so niedrig, dass man ihn mit der Hand berühren konnte. Und, es gab weder die Sonne, noch den Mond und noch die Sterne, die jetzt im unendlichen Raum des Himmels strahlen und gleissen.

Auch auf Erden war alles anders. Es gab viel Land, aber wenige Menschen. Die Tiere waren zahm, und die Voegel flogen hin und her zwischen den Baeumen, die sich mit ihren frischen, gruenen Kronen an den niedrigen Himmel lehnten.

Unter den wenigen Menschen, die damals die Welt bevölkerten, waren ein Mann und seine Frau. Sie waren sehr arbeitsam. Kaum blinkte ein schwaches Licht, das wer weiss woher kam - sie hatten ja die Sonne nie gesehen -, eilten Mann und Frau auf Feld, wo sie ohne Rast so lange arbeiteten, bis ihnen vor Hunger der Magen knurrte. Ihre Tage vergingen in Gleichförmigkeit, aber sie lebten einträchtig und glücklich zusammen.

Jeden Tag, wenn sie vom Feld heimkehrten, bereiteten Mann und Frau ihr Essen zu. Der Mann zerstiess Reis im Moerser, und die Frau kochte ihn  mit verschiedenen Zutaten.

Eines Tages kehrten sie vom Feld in ihre Hütte heim, sie waren sehr müde und sehr hungrig, und gleich machten sie sich daran, das Mittagessen zu kochen. Der Mann nahm Reis, schüttete ihn in den Moöser und zerstiess ihn. Die Frau schachtete ein fettes Huhn, tat es in einem Topf und heizte im Herd ein. Als die Flammen aufloderten und sich aus dem Herd der Rauch wälzte, kam es der Frau in den Sinn, ihren Kamm und ihre lange Halskette ans Firmament zu hängen.

Der Mann fuhr fort, den Reis zu zerstossen. Er war hungrig, er beeilte sich, und wie er so flink mit dem Stössel hantierte, stiess er jedesmal mit dem oberen Ende ans Firmament. Das erboste ihn, er stampfte auf und rief dem Himmel zu: "Warum bist du so niedrig? Du könntest dich weiten, damit du mich nicht immer bei der Arbeit störst!"

Kaum hatte er das ausgesprochen, da begann sich zu ihrer grössten Überraschung der Himmel sich zu erheben und mit ihm auch der Kamm und die Halskette, die daran hingen, ja sogar der Herd, in dem schon das Feuer loderte, erhob sich mit ihm. Seither strahlt jede Nacht, hoch oben am Himmel, der Mond, der einem Kamm gleicht; seither gleissen dort die Sterne, die den Perlen einer zerrissenen Halskette gleichen, und am Tag brennt die Sonne wie das Feuer von einem glühenden Herd.

Mehr philippinische Maerchen demnaechst hier!

More Philippine fairytales coming up soon and only here!


(Nacherzählt von Jozef Genzor, aus dem Slowakischen übersetzt von Dr. Anna Fialova; herausgegeben und gedruckt in der CSSR; deutsche Ausgabe: Verlag Werner Dausien, Hanau/Main, 1978).

There is a myth that in ancient times, when the world was just created, everything was different. The beautiful blue sky was very low, so low that you could touch it with your hand. And, there was neither the sun nor the moon nor the stars that now shine and shine in the infinite space of the sky.

Everything was different on earth too. There was a lot of land, but few people. The animals were tame, and the birds flew back and forth between the trees, which leaned with their fresh, green crowns against the low sky.

Among the few people who populated the world at that time were a man and his wife. They were very hardworking. As soon as a faint light flashed, which came from who knows where - they had never seen the sun - the man and woman hurried into the field, where they worked without rest until their stomachs rumbled with hunger. Their days passed in sameness, but they lived together harmoniously and happily.

Every day when they returned home from the field, the husband and wife prepared their food. The man pounded rice in a mortar and the woman cooked it with various ingredients.

One day they returned home from the field to their hut, they were very tired and very hungry, and they immediately set about cooking dinner. The man took rice, poured it into the moose and pounded it. The woman slaughtered a fat chicken, put it in a pot and heated it up in the stove. As the flames flared up and smoke rolled out of the hearth, the woman thought of hanging her comb and her long necklace on the firmament.

The man continued to pound the rice. He was hungry, he hurried, and as he handled the pestle so nimbly, each time he hit the firmament with the top end. This made him angry, he stomped on his feet and shouted to the sky: "Why are you so low? You could expand yourself so that you don't always disturb me at work!"

As soon as he had said this, to her greatest surprise, the sky began to rise and with it the comb and the necklace that hung on it, and even the hearth in which the fire was already blazing, rose with it. Since then, every night, high up in the sky, the moon shines like a comb; Since then, the stars have shone there like the pearls of a torn necklace, and in the daytime the sun burns like fire from a glowing hearth.

How often do Germans say "nee" or "nej" instead of "nein"?

  By Günter Neessen

Does it depend on the state?

In literature and higher register, “nein" is the word of choice. Regarding everyday speech, I can't answer for whole Germany, but where I come from, the west of the northern lowlands, “nee” is much more often used than “nein". Common people in their own peer group would only use “nee".

The reason is of course that “nee" is the Low German/Low Saxon word for “nein"/”no", and while Low Saxon tends to decline in favour of Standard German, the people integrate traits of it into something one might call “Northern Standard German”.

Edit: Regarding the reactions, it seems that “nee" is widespread within the German realm, not only in the north, but even at least in Central Germany.

Philippinische Märchen/Philippine Fairy Tales (I)

DIE DAME DER NACHT

Davon erfuhr Sultan Baranggay; er wollte es nicht zulassen, dass die Prinzessin das Schicksal mit einem einfachen Gärtner teile. Er beschloss, den Jüngling zu verjagen. Man vertrieb ihn in den Abendstunden aus dem Palast, als er sich mit der Liebsten treffen wollte. Prinzessin  Bartuha ahnte nicht, was ihr Vater getan hatte und ging ruhig in den Garten  zu ihrem Stelldichein.

Der Jüngling kam jedoch nicht. Stunde um Stunde verrann, und er war nirgends zu sehen. Da begriff die Prinzessin , dass sie ihn nie wiedersehen würde. Sie brach in Tränen aus und flehte zu Gott: "Gott, du weisst, wie schwer es mir um's Herz ist. Ich will ohne meinen Liebsten nicht leben. Verwandele mich in eine Blume, die in den Nächten, die der heutigen Nacht gleichen werden , ihren Duft über den ganzen Garten  verbreiten wird. Ich will mich in eine Blume  verwandeln, ich will hier in Treue auf meinen Liebsten warten."

Der Sultan, der seiner Tochter gefolgt war, erstarrte vor Grauen, als er sah, wie sich Prinzessin Bartuha in eine Pflanze verwandelte. Gleich darauf sprossen auf ihre Blüten, die einen feinen Duft ausströmten. Der Sultan schrie auf, doch es war zu spät.

Die Pflanze, die nachts so lieblich duftet, wird 'Dame der Nacht' (Lady of the Night) genannt.

[Translation (C) Dr. Anna Fialova, 1978 - erschienen im Verlag Werner Dausien, Hanau/Main und im Verlag Mlade leta, Bratislava, CSSR.]

THE LADY OF THE NIGHT

Sultan Baranggay found out about this; He didn't want to allow the princess to share her fate with a simple gardener. He decided to drive the young man away. He was driven out of the palace in the evening hours when he wanted to meet his sweetheart. Princess Bartuha had no idea what her father had done and calmly went into the garden for her tryst.

However, the youth did not come. Hour after hour passed and he was nowhere to be seen. Then the princess realized that she would never see him again. She burst into tears and pleaded with God: "God, you know how heavy my heart is. I don't want to live without my loved one. Turn me into a flower that in the nights that will be like tonight, will spread its scent over the entire garden. I want to transform myself into a flower, I want to wait here faithfully for my loved one."

The Sultan, who had been following his daughter, froze in horror when he saw Princess Bartuha turn into a plant. Immediately afterwards, their flowers sprouted and exuded a delicate scent. The Sultan screamed, but it was too late.

The plant that smells so sweet at night is called 'Lady of the Night'.

PAGASA: Most of PH may experience rains due to shear line, 'amihan'

BY LIZST TORRES ABELLO

Nov 21, 2023 09:25 AM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday, Nov. 21 said most of Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao may continue to experience scattered light rains due to the prevalence of the shear line and northeast monsoon or "amihan."

Photo credit to MB Visual Content Group

PAGASA said Bicol Region, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to shear line—an area where the cold northeasterly winds and warm easterlies converge.

The public is warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains in the affected areas.

Due to the amihan, cloudy skies with light rains will prevail over Cagayan Valley and Quezon, while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains will affect Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

PAGASA said the rest of Mindanao will also have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms.

The public is advised that flash floods or landslides may also occur during severe thunderstorms. 

Mindanao earthquake is a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 21, 2023 06:52 AM 

Among the various natural calamities mankind may face, earthquakes stand out as the most perilous due to their suddenness. Despite the possibility of high-magnitude quakes providing subtle warnings, the recent earthquake last Nov. 17, 2023, at 4 p.m. that affected a large area of Mindanao exposed our weakness when it comes to disaster preparedness.

According to a primer from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 6.8, with its epicenter located 28 kilometers southwest of Sarangani, Davao Occidental. The agency attributed the earthquake to the Cotabato Trench and reported a total of 58 aftershocks by 8 a.m. on Nov. 18.

Online videos depicting the seismic activity reveal the forceful shaking of the land, so strong that even a crane on top of a building collapsed. However, what's worrisome is that people have apparently forgotten the “Drop, Cover, Hold” protocol, a fundamental rule during earthquakes where one must drop to the ground or crawl under a desk, find something hard to cover the head, and hold on to something stable until the shaking stops.

Despite being taught in schools and offices during earthquake drills, this protocol was thrown to the wind as people shouted, panicked, and ran aimlessly. Chaos ensued in public spaces like malls and gymnasiums. When the lights went off in one supermarket, a video showed everyone shouting and elbowing their way to the nearest exit. There were reports of injuries due to these incidents.

This unfortunate scenario underscores a critical issue — disaster preparedness is not deeply ingrained in our “lifestyle.” When faced with a natural calamity, we forget that staying calm is the best way to save our lives — and the lives of others.

The DOST-PHIVOLCS also emphasized another peril during earthquake events: the rapid spread of rumors causing panic. It urged citizens to rely only on information from verified sources such as DOST-PHIVOLCS and respective Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs).

While the full impact of the earthquake is yet to be assessed, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has already activated emergency preparedness and response protocols. The Civil Defense Regional Offices are closely coordinating with affected LGUs to provide real-time updates.

Addressing the situation, the President said, “Following the (earthquake), I assure you that the government is actively responding to ensure the safety of our citizens. In these challenging times, my commitment to your safety and recovery is unwavering, and I have instructed every relevant government agency to fully contribute to ongoing efforts.”

With the government response in place, those affected by the earthquake would find the timely assistance they need. However, this incident should serve as an early warning for the entire country — earthquakes and similar calamities are unpredictable and will not be the last of their kind. Even with the latest technologies, no one knows where and when the next earthquake will strike. 

What we can do in the meantime is to make sure that our family, friends, and the community where we belong are prepared for any disaster and aware of early warnings; otherwise, there will be great loss — and greater regrets.

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake hits Calbiga, Samar | INQToday

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology says a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Calbiga, Samar on Monday. Read more: https://inqnews.net/56quakeSamar

Massive ground fissures appear in Glan, Sarangani after quake | ANC

Is there a specific reason why Germans eat sausages with bread?

Volker Eichener

Most of the time, when we eat Bratwurst, it is just a snack, fast food from a street stand, served on a cardboard tray and eaten with fingers.

The bread serves as a holder. And it compensates for the protein and fat content of the sausage.

Or, when we eat our versions of sandwiches (Butterbrot), the bread stands in the foreground. Bread used to be the main food staple for thousands of years. Historically, the word “bread” simply stands for food. Think of the Last Supper.

To make bread more interesting, you may eat it with butter and a slice of sausage. The Butterbrot is probably Germany’s most-eaten food item, for breakfast, in breaks, sometimes even for dinner.

When we eat sausage as a main dish (what we rarely do as sausage is considered a cheap, simple dish) we usually eat it with hash brown, mashed potatoes or potato salad.

'Filipino kids hit hard by climate change'

LUCKY BOYS Vice President Sara Duterte poses for a photo with two boys during the celebration of World Children’s Day on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN

By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino

VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said climate change has hit Filipino children hard, thus the need to address the crisis.

"This year, let us acknowledge the urgent need to address the climate crisis — a threat that disproportionately impacts children and threatens their prospects. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis that affects children's lives, education and health. And climate change is hitting Filipino kids hard."

She said typhoons cause flooding, landslides and storm surges in high-risk areas, affecting children.

The vice president said the country ranked first in the World Risk Index for 2022.

From 2016 to 2021, about 9.7 million Filipino children were displaced because of climate-change related events.

"These displacements caused increased diseases, respiratory illnesses and long-term mental health issues among children," she said.

"Disasters force children to miss school, affect their learning and their future. In rural communities, where agriculture is the main industry, these calamities generate food shortages and malnutrition," she added.

Duterte said children must be given "meaningful participation" in the fight against climate change.

"As adults, we must commit to walking the talk. We can start by reducing our carbon footprints and living sustainably. We must also promote programs that encourage kids to improve their community's disaster resilience. The upcoming COP28 presents a critical opportunity for the Philippine government to design and implement child-responsive climate action that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of children."

More deaths

Experts earlier warned that more people will die from extreme heat and that without action, the health of humanity "is at grave risk."

The Lancet Countdown, a major annual assessment carried out by leading researchers and institutions, said more common droughts will put millions at risk of starving, mosquitoes spreading farther than ever before will take infectious diseases with them, and health systems will struggle to cope with the burden.

Last year people worldwide were exposed to an average of 86 days of life-threatening temperatures, according to the Lancet Countdown study. Around 60 percent of those days were made more than twice as likely due to climate change, it said.

The number of people over 65 who died from heat rose by 85 percent from 1991-2000 to 2013-2022, it added.

"However, these impacts that we are seeing today could be just an early symptom of a very dangerous future," Lancet Countdown's executive director Marina Romanello said.

Under a scenario in which the world warms by two degrees Celsius by the end of the century — it is currently on track for 2.7 C — annual heat-related deaths were projected to increase 370 percent by 2050. That marks a 4.7-fold increase.

Around 520 million more people will experience moderate or severe food insecurity by mid-century, according to the projections.

And mosquito-borne infectious diseases will continue to spread into new areas. The transmission of dengue would increase by 36 percent under a 2.0 C warming scenario, according to the study.

WITH AFP